Xi Jinping Holds Talks with General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos
2016-05-03 09:06

On May 3, 2016, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos.

Xi Jinping welcomed Bounnhang Vorachith's official and goodwill visit to China. Xi Jinping expressed that as a good and old friend of the Chinese people, Comrade General Secretary has always been committed to developing China-Laos friendly and cooperative relations. China appreciates your instant visit to China after taking office as General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President of Laos, which fully demonstrates the great importance attached by the LPRP, the Lao government and yourself to China-Laos relations.

Xi Jinping emphasized that under the new situation, both sides should maintain the strong development momentum of China-Laos relations in recent years, seize the rare opportunities brought by the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and expand the width and depth of China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Laos diplomatic relations. For more than half a century, China-Laos relations have been continuously consolidated and developed, and both sides have established a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation featuring high-level mutual trust, mutual assistance and mutual benefit. Under the careful nurture and vigorous promotion of generations of leaders of both parties and countries, the traditional friendship between China and Laos has withstood the change of times and fluctuating international situation and become even firmer, turning into a shared treasure for the two sides. China attaches great importance to developing China-Laos relations and stands ready to work with the new central leadership of the LPRP to uphold the policy of long-term stability, good neighborliness and friendship, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation and the spirit of good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner, inherit the past and usher in the future, promote the sound and stable development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation on a long-term basis, and join hands to build an unbreakable China-Laos community of common destiny.

Bounnhang Vorachith expressed that he was delighted to visit China and have the first meeting with President Xi Jinping after he assumed the office of General Secretary of the LPRP and President of Laos. He extended gratitude to the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping for sending congratulatory messages and special envoy to Laos when the 10th LPRP National Congress was convened and he was elected as the LPRP General Secretary, which were great encouragement and support to the LPRP and himself. This visit inherits and carries forward the tradition of friendly high-level exchanges between the two countries and parties, which he believes will certainly enhance high-level mutual trust between the two sides.

Xi Jinping stressed that both China and Laos are socialist countries led by a communist party, with shared ideals and faiths, similar development paths and connected future and destiny, which constitute the important political foundation for the development of China-Laos relations. In order to expand the breadth and depth of the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Laos, both sides should keep close high-level exchanges and maintain high-level political mutual trust; deepen party-to-party exchanges, promote mutual learning, and enhance experience exchanges in party administration and state governance; dovetail development strategies, promote practical cooperation, and realize the effective docking of the "Belt and Road" initiative and Laos' strategy of "transiting from a land-locked country into a land-linked one" and that of China's "13th Five-Year Plan" and Laos' "8th National Socio-economic Development Plan". The two countries should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and develop projects that connect people's hearts; reinforce security cooperation and maintain the stable situation; strengthen coordination and cooperation, and deepen cooperation in international affairs. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. China firmly supports the ASEAN's integration process and fully supports Laos to do well in its rotating presidency of the ASEAN.

Bounnhang Vorachith stated that he completely agrees with Xi Jinping's suggestions on further developing the relations between the two parties and countries. He noted that this year is of great significance to Laos-China cooperative relations. Both sides will hold a series of activities to jointly celebrate the 55th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. The LPRP and the new leadership of Laos will comprehensively inherit and carry forward their traditional friendship with the CPC, the Chinese government and people, as well as the long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. The Lao side will also make joint efforts with China to promote bilateral friendly relations to continuously bloom and yield fruits. He also appreciated China's support to Laos in holding the rotating presidency of the ASEAN.

Both sides briefed on their current domestic situations. Xi Jinping spoke positively of the remarkable achievements made by the LPRP in exploring the path of socialist construction in line with its national conditions. Bounnhang Vorachith expressed his admiration for the great achievements constantly made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. He believes that China will undoubtedly and smoothly achieve the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and contribute to the peaceful development in the region and around the globe.

After the talks, Xi Jinping and Bounnhang Vorachith jointly witnessed the signing of relevant bilateral cooperative documents.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Bounnhang Vorachith at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Li Zhanshu, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Yan Junqi, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chen Yuan and others attended the ceremony.

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